"The preparations are complete; though I do not see the point to it." Orbot scratched his dome. "This seems a little much."
Eggman crossed his arms and looked at the dim dining room that was filled with the glow of burning candles and the smell of savory vegetable dishes.
"What do witches like?" Eggman pulled at his sleeves.
"According to the internet they like jars. A lot of jars." Cubot straightened up a napkin he so lovingly folded into the shape of a swan.
"Broomsticks, pointy hats, coffee mugs that say 'the witch is in'." Orbot unfolded the swan and flattened the napkin.
"Dead flowers," Cubot folded the napkin again, "Five-pointed stars."
"Ouija boards." Orbot ripped the napkin from Cubot's hands and unfolded it and slammed it on the table. Cubot reached for it but decided it would be best to leave it alone and backed away when Orbot's eyes glowed red.
"I think I need to update your search engine on the EggNet…" Eggman sighed.
"She's at the gate, Thunderbolt poked her head in the room, "Ready to work your magic, boss?"
"Let her in the lair and bring her to me." He cracked his knuckles.
The chinchilla bolted to the entrance to let the woman in.
"I wanted to apologize to you for earlier, Thunderbolt, I just didn't want you to get hur-" Sheptilah was interrupted mid-sentence by the chinchilla pulling her by the skirt to the dining room.
"Lord Eggman has much to discuss with you," she tugged, "It's urgent."
"You're going to rip my skirt off if you pull any harder." She gripped the knot holding it up so it wouldn't come undone.
"That's the last thing I want to do," Thunderbolt let go of the hem, "This way." She led the witch to the dining room.
"Oh, gods." Sheptilah felt her stomach drop when she saw the romantic setting complete with two cups of chilled red wine.
"Your highness, welcome back to my tower," he pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit in it, "Thank you, Thunderbolt. You can go back to your business."
"Yes, sir." Thunderbolt bowed and scurried out of the room and slid the door closed then pressed her large ear to it to listen in.
The witch furrowed her eyebrows suspiciously and sat in the floating chair. "Doctor…"
"We got off on the wrong foot. I wanted to apologize for my reckless behavior earlier." He sat in his chair with a soft 'whumf' as the cushion gave way under him. "I really must explain my actions."
"I wanted to apologize, too," she cast her eyes to the side, "I did go a bit overboard." Even though you crushed my skull, she seethed internally.
"I truly didn't mean to slam you so hard. When I heard that wet crunch," he winced, "I realized had gone too far. I still have a slight headache from the bond retaliating against me."
He honestly did not intend to throw her with such force. He sometimes forgot how strong he was compared to normal humans.
"Overlanders… we are mutants." He removed his glasses and revealed those eyes like dim-burning coals in the pitch of night.
Sheptilah flinched. She had only ever seen those kinds of dark sclerae in people who were slowly strangled to death.
"Mutants?"
He put his glasses back on. "Alien interference thousands of years ago caused this. Thousands of years before you were born, even. It seems that aliens have been altering living things in this planet since the dawn of time."
Eggman wove a long and sad tale that was actually mostly true. He spoke of his cousin Maria and her relation to Shadow and the ARK his grandfather worked on. It began with alien betrayal and the state-sanctioned murder of his grandfather on camera for the world to see. It all clicked into place for Sheptilah: she saw Maria's murder and the fight with the biolizard when she scryed and those feelings of fear and hatred were Shadow's, not his perceived victims'. She was afraid of him for no reason. He was telling the truth.
"I was lucky enough to be the one who caught Shadow in the exosphere and helped him gain his strength back but he eventually joined GUN against everyone's better judgment. I have been trying to emulate what my grandfather wanted to do with his life but I decided ruling the universe was more fun and profitable."
The witch chewed her food slowly and thought about all he told her while she tapped her extended nails on the table's glass surface. She waited for her Oracle Stone to detect if he was lying but it determined he was not .
"Why would you save Shadow's life?"
"Because he was as much my grandfather's as he is mine. I inherited my grandfather's sins and accomplishments by virtue of blood." Eggman traced his finger around the rim of the cup.
"It's complicated," she echoed his words from earlier, "You were afraid of losing your life's work to the same people that murdered your grandfather so you panicked." I owe you for protecting my familiar , she thought.
"Yes, and after having thought about it I sincerely apologize for it. I do not trust GUN to stay the way it is- especially not if they steal my weapons technology and my wealth as well as my people." He finished off his food and sipped his wine.
"Why do you want to take over the world?" She avoided eye contact and stared at her plate.
"Why not? Besides, if I am in charge of everything nobody else will get hurt."
"So you think acute fascism is the only solution?" She raised an eyebrow. "Excellent way to be murdered by your constituents."
"No, the other solution is to kill everyone." He chuckled. "Look, I was a lot wilder in my younger days. It's much different now; even Sonic would tell you that. I am probably going to give up soon and retire and enjoy my golden years." He feigned sadness at the thought.
"I suppose," Sheptilah reached for the wine and took a sip only to choke at how strong it was, "Wine-making has certainly gotten more potent with time," she coughed, "I was unprepared."
He grinned. "Sorry."
She shook her head and took another sip. "It tastes great! I am just used to it being more watered down. Alcohol doesn't affect me much anyway; it's those healing powers I have. Back in my day we ate poisonous things for a slight buzz."
"You ate poison? For fun?" He squinted at her from behind dark glasses.
"Yes, certain poisons." She threw back her head and finished off the wine in one gulp. "So don't waste your good wine on me." She set the cup down with a click. "But if you have hemlock on hand I will take it."
"It isn't a waste, I rarely have guests over." He shrugged. "I'm a very solitary man. Besides, you are a queen. Aren't you used to the finest of everything?" He poured her another glass.
"I slept outside with my family under the stars every night and was never fond of covering myself in jewelry," she tilted her head cutely, "So yes and no. I noticed that you live quite minimally. Your bed is too small for even just yourself. I'm willing to bet you actually spend most of your time on your amazing sofa."
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yes, you walked out of your room and straight to the sofa after I broke the sink- which is how I ended up in the room with Thunderbolt." The woman pushed her food around with her fork.
"Speaking of Thunderbolt," he leaned in, "I would like for you to lead my army in the fight against the witch-eaters."
"What?"
"While we remain bonded it is in my best interest as well to help you. Therefore I would like for you to assist in commanding my army."
"I already have GUN at my disposal and they should be enough." She crossed her arms.
"Yes, but why not double your firepower? These witch-eating beasts are extremely dangerous."
"I still have to make the staff my mothers had in the fight. The same one that sealed the beasts away the first time. It takes so many rare items-"
"And the Egg militia will help you. I promise."
"I would prefer not to involve more people than necessary."
"They're already involved. Many of them are still being held hostage at GUN for my insured cooperation and their friends and family were murdered by the witch-eaters. These are very capable people from all over the world with many talents that would be a great advantage for you." He reached across the table and put his hand on top of hers as a friendly gesture.
She did not trust either organization; however if she had her hands in both of them she could keep a watchful eye on them. She had already gained an improbable amount of trust from Cabbot and Tower so why not? Being bonded to Eggman might not be enough to keep him under control, either.
"Alright. On one condition." She took her hand off the table.
"Name it."
"You leave the Mobians alone until after this is all over. All of them."
He opened his mouth to speak and she interrupted him by holding a finger up in the air.
"Every. Single. One. Everything you've got going on currently? It stops. Immediately."
"Done." He grinned.
She sighed softly. "Okay. What's first?"
"Let's get you fitted for a uniform."
She snorted. "Are you serious?"
He nodded and let a smile spread on his face. "I'm not complaining but you can't run around half-naked."